Where those associated with Western films from around the world are laid to rest.

Thursday, November 9, 2017

RIP William Frye

RIP William Frye

Los Angeles Times

November 9, 2017

William Frye, a wellknown Hollywood producer whose career
spanned radio, movies and television has died at age 96. Frye died Friday
morning November 3rd in his Palm Desert home of natural causes. Frye was born
in Salinas California on October 5, 1921 to parents- Harry R. and Bernice Frye.
Frye spent most of his youth being doted on by his maternal grandparents, the
Thompson's who were successful lettuce and artichoke farmers. In World War II
Frye served in the Merchant Marines. Upon returning to the states after his
service, Frye knew he had a decision to make. He could either stay in Salinas
and have a career in the family farming business or go to Hollywood and see if
he could make it there on his own. With his grandmother's blessing, Frye headed
to Hollywood. Frye's success in Hollywood started when he had the opportunity
to become Cary Grant's agent at the age of 27. Mr. Grant suggested Frye change
his age to 30 to be more credible in this highly image conscious business.
Along with Mr. Grant, Frye forged a lifelong relationship with Ronald Coleman
and he credits both of these gentlemen for helping him become a Producer.
Frye's interest in producing lead him to sign with Lew Wasserman and his studio
Music Corporation of America (MCA). Under his long-term contract with
Wasserman's studio and then later at Universal Studios, Frye enjoyed an
illustrious career producing TV series - the Thriller series with Boris Karloff
being the most well known, and GE Theater with Ronald Reagan and such well
known movies as the 1966 comedy The Trouble with Angels starring Rosiland
Russell, and even a special T.V. documentary on Princess Grace called A Look At
Monaco in 1963. In the 1950's and 60's when television was eclipsing movies,
Frye hired many famous movie stars to work in his movies and on T.V. Series.
These productions lead him to become close friends with many that he worked
with including his closest friends the Ronald Coleman's, the Boris Karloff's,
Greta Garbo, the Reagans, Irene Dunn, Olivia DeHaviland, Cary Grant, Loretta
Young, Rosalind Russell,the Bob Hopes and the Jimmy Stewart's. Frye credited
much of his success to his longtime partner James Wharton. Frye who was known
as much for his big personality as for his meticulous producing success in
Hollywood¿use to say he missed the 'Golden Age of Hollywood', but he knew all
of the actors. He retired to Palm Desert, California in 1990 and lived at
Ironwood Country Club writing many articles about Hollywood for Vanity Fair
Magazine.

About Me

Born in Toledo, Ohio in 1946 I have a BA degree in American History from Cal St. Northridge. I've been researching the American West and western films since the early 1980s and visiting filming sites in Spain and the U.S.A. Elected a member of the Spaghetti Western Hall of Fame 2010.